The Age Music Victoria Awards 2018 Announce New Venue + Nominees Revealed And Public Voting Now Open!

11 Oct 2018

Australia’s largest publicly voted music awardsThe Age Music Victoria Awards is back for its 13th year in 2018. Boasting a massive night of live music and accolades, the 2018 Awards will take place on Wednesday 21 November during Melbourne Music Week.

This year, the awards welcome new major partners, The Melbourne Recital Centre, which is hosting the event for the first time, Bendigo Bank who will be providing cash grants to the regional award winners, and The Archie Roach Foundation sponsoring the new Emerging Talent Award.

Also, for the first time, the Victorian Government will provide $10,000 to the newly titled Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018, and $5,000 to the Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Breakthrough Act of 2018.

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley said: “We’re proud to support these awards, and it’s just a small acknowledgement of the economic, social and cultural benefits music brings to our State.”

Co-presented by vital community radio stations Triple R 102.7FM and PBS 106.7FM, the evening will be hosted by beloved radio presenters Lyndelle Wilkinson and Chris Gill and will invite industry to gather, reflect and celebrate another successful year for Victorian music, with live performers and the Hall Of Fame induction to be announced in early November.

From now until Friday 9 November, Australia’s music community can vote for their favourite music contributions of the year in the 10 publicly-voted categories for Best Album, Best Band, Best Song, Best Solo Artist, Best Male Musician, Best Female Musician, Best Breakthrough Act, Best Live Band, Best Small Venue (under 500 capacity) and Best Large Venue (over 500 capacity).

This year, Melbourne icon Courtney Barnett and rising star Baker Boy are leading the charge in the publicly voted awards, nominated in all 5 categories that they are each eligible for. Laura Jean is up for 4 awards for her fifth studio album Devotion, and Sampa The Great, Camp Cope, Tropical F*ck Storm and Mojo Juju all in the running for three mentions.

Additionally, 17 industry awards will be handed out, with nominees and winners selected by expert panels of industry heavyweights. The industry-voted awards celebrate the diversity of Victoria’s thriving music community, and reward excellence in regional music, festivals and genres, with new and updated award categories introduced this year for Best Reggae and Dancehall, Best Global and Best Rock/Punk.

Be sure to cast your vote now to commend your local favourites on yet another incredible year of Victorian music! Voters will automatically go in the running to win one of 2 double passes to the exclusive industry-only event.

The full lists of nominees now open for PUBLIC VOTING are:

The Premier’s Prize for the Best Victorian Album of 2018 - $10,000 Cash Prize